Joe Apu
Civil Defenders Basketball of Nigeria last night landed in Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic for this weekend’s FIBA Africa Basketball League.
The championship that is the new format for club champions in the continent will see Defenders battling for one of the two available tickets for the Elite 8 stage.
The team that finished as runners-up at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers last December insisted that they were not ready to play second fiddle again.
To further boost their chances, Defenders had added three new players to their squad: Point guard Anaiye Johnson joined the team from Kwara Falcons, talented shooting guard, Ibe Abuchi Agu came from Gombe Bulls and former Dodan Warriors shooting guard, Garba Umar from Bauchi Nets.
According to Defenders’ Head Coach, Gombwer Paul, the team is now better fortified than they were last December. “We’re now a better side and are ready to compete on a level playing ground like other teams,” he said.
Though, not undermining any team, Paul was adamant that he has the players to make the difference. “Defenders as a team have nothing to fear, because we already know ELAN Sportif, but the others are not known to us.
“As much as we will not underrate any team, we’re ready to give our best to remain in this new competition. The idea of the FIBA Africa Basketball League is something that excites us. We will do our best to pick one of the two tickets,” the play caller added.